In a daylight mission, the RAF, Special Air Service and Special Boat Service used two specially equipped Hercules aircraft
to snatch Britons from the country. However, it is feared up to 300 oil workers from the UK remain stranded.The rescue teams, who flew out of bases in Malta, searched an area four times the size of Britain to locate workers before evacuating them back to Valletta in Malta last night.
They were given food and water and medical assistance before being taken to hotels to rest. They will begin arriving home today.
Within hours of them arriving back to safety, the international community ratcheted up the pressure on the Libyan dictator as the security situation in the country deteriorated. The British embassy in Tripoli was closed and its staff hurriedly evacuated.
William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, disclosed that a major international diplomatic offensive against the dictator was starting.
